Authors Note: Apologies for how long this took. I am not a fast writer and have been swamped with school papers, exams and other things.

Chapter 2

A Leap of FAITH

For the first time in a long time Heero couldn't focus. Since his strange arrival in the Cosmic Era he had never told a soul about his past. Buried it deep inside himself. Whenever he was asked about his past he stuck to his cover story like he had been trained to. He shrugged the questions about his piloting ability away under the excuse of "natural talent I suppose". But now he had come clean.

He didn't expect Seigel Clyne or Eileen Caraver to bring any negative attention down on him. From all he had heard and witnessed they were honourable people, rare for politicians. He had never threatened the PLANTs or acted against them, hell he was a ZAFT soldier. He was a soldier, it was all he really knew. He joined ZAFT because he thought his abilities wouldn't stick out as much there as opposed to the militaries in the Earth Alliance.

But he did stick out, his reaction times and understanding of military tactics put him in the spotlight during his time in ZAFT's military training programs. He stood out in basic training with his endurance and self defensive skills. In combat pilot training for his second nature ability to pilot and fight with mobile suits. He stuck out as a lone wolf during battle simulations. He occasionally stuck out during military procedure and ethics classes refusing to believe all the propaganda about how Coordinators were superior. A stance that got him in several fights with classmates and instructors alike.

Finally arriving at his apartment that his rank entitled him to he went in and headed to bed. His conversation with the two members of the Supreme Council had tired him out more then he would want to admit. His apartment was fairly modest. A single spartan bedroom with attached bathroom and small kitchen consisting of chrome appliances, a cozy living room with a simple black couch and matching chair and a television. Some would find it insultingly small but he liked it well enough, after all he had slept more then a couple days inside his Gundam.

Sleep did not come easy that night.

"Heero Yuy launching" he called out to the CIC officer.

The catapult launched his GINN out of the ship in space where he quickly formed up on the five other GINNs that were his unit. His radio flared to life with a sudden hiss of static. "Alright as you know our orders are to eliminate three long range beam cannons the naturals set up along the lower level of Yggdrasil. They are preventing our warships from betting close enough to effectively return fire. Another team has been sent to destroy the cannons on the upper level. Keep your speed up and avoid those blasts or your fucking already dead! Remember they have a slow rate of fire and will no doubt be protected by some mobile armours. Lets go!" Their team leader spat his voice filled with rage.

"Make them pay for Junius Seven." Another pilot called out.

Gunning his engines to stay with his team Heero scanned the area. Dozens of destroyed ships hung about in the void of space. Some looking mostly intact other just a fan of debris. Broken GINNs and Moebius mobile armours drifted about. The battle had been raging for over two weeks now, casulties high on both sides. Heero watched as several Moebius raced around after a pair of GINNs before being destroyed by a volley of missiles from a ZAFT Laurasia class.

Alarms went off as Heero dodged to the side of a burst of energy from the guns he was on his way to destroy. Taking evasive action his team split into pairs and broke off from each other. A cluster of mobile suits is a high priority target a pair not so much. His partner was equipped with type D equipment used for destroying bases or enemy warships. It consisted of two missile launchers both carrying a pair of highly destructive missiles.

"We will hit the far left gun. Move quick and take it out I will deal with the defending mobile armours. Hit it fast before they have a chance to coordinate and bring in reinforcements" He called over to his wingman who grunted a reply. Thompson was his name both had graduated together and were recently assigned to the same fleet.

Flying over a dark green OMNI Nelson-class warship that had been blown in two. They were engaged by four purple and grey mobile armours. Aiming his machine gun Heero fired easily destroying one. The other three returned fire focusing on him seeing that the other GINN wasn't equipped with a effective weapon for attacking the small nimble crafts.

Weaving through the storm of gunfire and dodging a sudden volley of missiles Heero took aim and blasted another it exploding in a flash of bright red light. Rolling to the side to avoid another volley he fired again in short bursts removing the last two Moebius mobile armours from the mortal coil.

"Nice shooting Yuy. Lets get this gun and get out of here." His radio flared before going silent once more.

Forming back up in front of Thompson they sped through the battlefield that had become a graveyard over the past few weeks. Hailing Thompson Heero quickly shared his plan. "We are two minutes out, lets drop down low and come up from underneath them hit them hard and fast and get out."

"Sounds good." Came the stressful reply that sounded like it was coming from gritted teeth.

Dropping their altitude they proceeded beneath a mostly intact Laurasia class that had been look like it had been evacuated due to a severe hull breach. Several corpses in green ZAFT uniforms were afloat having been sucked out from the long gash alongside the ship. "What a terrible way to die." He muttered aloud.

"My radar is only picking up what looks like two mobile armours, seems the other attacking teams pulled them away for. Max speed. I will get the moebius you get the gun quickly don't let them get a lock on you. On my mark." He waited for a moment making sure ally understood.

"Mark!" With a burst of speed they were off, dodging debris and the scattered gunfire coming the space station's CIWS emplacements. They were halfway across the mostly open area before the OMNI pilots noticed them. Both launched a volley of missiles as they moved to engage. Pulling ahead of his ally he aimed at the oncoming enemies and fired scoring direct hits on both. The both detonated in a flash of crimson light.

"To easy." He quietly muttered. He was a Gundam pilot, these pathetic mobile armours didn't have a chance.

Crossing the open area and arriving at Yggdrasil both pilots shot upwards. There sudden appearance along the stations lower defensive perimeter was met with a blast of small caliber gunfire which at most scratched their GINN's armour. Turning about Heero stomped on one of the mentioned gun emplacements and destroyed the other with a burst from his GINN's machine gun. Turning back in time to see Thompson fire all four missiles at their objective. Both pilots reversed their machines to avoid the coming explosion. The missiles found their target and detonated taking the cannon and its energy supply with it in a burning flash of yellow light.

Opening a communication link to the ship serving as his teams base of operations. "This is Yuy and Thompson. Long range cannon destroyed. Mission complete. We are returning to base." He reported.

"Received. You are clear for landing." A familiar voice answered.

He knew that voice. It was seared into his memory. A reminder of his failure, of those whose deaths he had been directly responsible. Not soldiers, he had killed more then his share of soldiers. But soldiers were acceptable casualties. This was a girls voice. It came to him suddenly. A flower. A girl in a white dress and hat walking her dog. Mary, that was the dogs name. The smell of death hit him next, the putrid rolling smell of burning corpses and smoke.

Aprilius One

August 15th CE 70

Gasping he shot up in bed hand flying to his end table where he always kept his pistol. The cold metal was comforting under his sweaty hand. Rolling to sit on the edge of the bed he sat there, the only sound the his ragged breath. That nightmare had been haunting him for nearly six years. His first drastic failure. It had claimed the lives of hundreds of people, most importantly the girl that had given him a flower. He didn't know the girls name, how he wished he did. A name to go along with the face.

He pounded the heel of his hand into his head with a grunt. "Get out of my head." He groaned.

Heero Yuy found himself once again sitting quietly in the lobby of the building that housed the PLANTs Supreme Council. Dressed in his red ZAFT uniform showcasing his skill as a elite mobile suit pilot. Earlier he had gotten another phone call from Seigel Clyne's secretary asking him to come back and finish their conversation. So here he sat, recalling the meeting he had only yesterday. With a grimace he thought perhaps threatening to kill two council members wasn't the best choice of action. The same women as yesterday with her eye catching green hair waved him over and directed him again down the same hallway. Surrendering his firearm he knocked and entered.

The office was the saw as it was the day before and both Clyne and Caraver were waiting for him. Stopping before them and offering a quick salute. Both council members gestured to him to sit and he did. Before him Clyne set a decorative reddish wooden box perhaps made of mahogany. Heero had several of them stashed in a cardboard box somewhere in his closet. Looking up he saw both Clyne and Caraver watching him carefully. Taking the box in his hand he opened it his face breaking into surprise for the briefest moment.

Inside was a badge made of what looked like polished titanium. In was in the form of a wing, not unlike the wings that once gave him the power to fight for what he believed in no matter the odds. It reminded him of his cherished Wing Zero. Connected to the wing was a small golden orb in which the wing sprouted from.

"FAITH." He spoke quietly. "You want me to join FAITH."

"Commander Yuy, Heero." Clyne began. "Over the last few weeks I have been reviewing your military records, interviewing your past commanding officers, allies, anyone you would of had a personal contact with. Anyone who could tell me about yourself. Do you know what they have told me?" He asked.

Heero shook his head. Thinking back to everyone he had opened up to in the slightest.

"While you have been incredible successful in concealing your colourful past your actions since your enlistment have spoken for themselves. Time after time you have proven yourself in the battlefield, as a extraordinary pilot, a talented tactician and a strong leader. While our causalities have been high you are often described as a key reason why they have not been higher. You have conducted yourself with honour and showed that while you are a soldier you believe in peace. Most importantly you have showed your humanity and kind heart in the protection of Naturals and Coordinators alike." Clyne finished with a smile.

"Before you accept I want to be sure you know what being a member of FAITH entails. FAITH or the Fast Acting Intergrate Tactical Headquarters is only for those with remarkable military records and a strong character. Both of with you possess. As a member you will have authority above all but the Supreme Council and work outside ZAFT's command structure. You will be able to formulate your own objectives and if the situation calls for it take over command from other say incompetent ZAFT officers. It is a huge responsibility and you will be held accountable for your actions by the Council." Clyne stated. "I believe you have what it takes."

Eileen Caraver stood and spoke up at last. "Commander Heero Yuy do you accept to position offered to you?"

Heero stood following suit. "I accept this responsibility and will uphold the position to the best of my abilities." Was his answer. He quickly pinned the badge identifying him as a member of FAITH.

"Excellent." Clyne reached into his desk and drew out a fairly thick stack of paper. Removing the top sheet he laid it before Heero and handed him a pen.

"This is simply a written copy for the records, sign where needed please." He said.

Quickly signing his adopted codename with a flourish he handed the sheet back. Clyne and Caraver also signed as witnesses before sorting the contract into the out bin.

"Now I have the fun of going through all of this." Clyne laughed pointing at the stack of paper. "But first we must discus what your plans are now. Do you have any question?"

"To be honest I am use to piloting a far superior machine then to my current CQUE. Are there any experiment mobile suit ready or anything being developed at this time?" Heero asked.

"As far as I know there are no new units ready. Or anything I would want to give you that is currently being developed." Caraver answered.

Clyne was silent for a moment complementing his next words. "We have reliable reports from several spies that the Alliance Federation are developing prototypes with the assistance of the Orb Union. They are being developed in the neutral Orb colony of Heliopolis. Our information suggests that they will not be fully function able for another two months or so. But they are apparently more advanced then anything in ZAFT's arsenal. I believe someone of your background and skills would not have a problem of infiltrating Morgenroete and acquiring this data?"

Heero nodded. It wouldn't be his first stealth infiltration after all. He had experience and the necessary ability to infiltrate and hack into secure systems.

Clyne paused before continuing. "When you return we will see about building you a mobile suit worthy of your skills. I have the perfect man in mind the help with that. You are not to be caught or harm anyone inside the colony. Our aim is peace not initiating another war with the Orb Union. Do you understand?"

Heero stood and nodded his comprehension. "Mission Accepted."

Orb Union Colony Heliopolis

August 24th CE 70

Heliopolis was a older colony of the "Island 3" design located at Lagrange 3. The colony's central shaft was attached to a large mining asteroid, the colonies main source of income and employment. As a colony of the Orb Union the population was made up of both coordinators and naturals. As a neutral nation Orb's borders did not have as many restrictions as the PLANTs and the nation of the Earth Alliance making Heero's entry rather trivial.

Acquiring a false identity and the necessary paperwork had been easy. Using his newfound authority as a FAITH agent he received a package of documents bearing the name Duo Maxwell from ZAFT's intelligence bureau with two days along with the blueprints of Morgenroete's facilities. Seven days later he was en route to Heliopolis with everything he need to get in steal the data and get out undetected.

A quiet beeping began before a woman's voice filled the cabin. "Attention all passengers we have arrived at the colony Heliopolis, please remain patient and seated while the shuttle is docking. Thank you for flying with Tribute Shuttles and we hope you have a pleasant visit."

Within the hour Heero had arrived at a the room he had booked at a small hotel no more then a fifteen minute walk from Morgenroete. Should look over the blueprints and make sure everything is set before tonight he thought. Recovering his laptop he pulled up the plans. Morgenroete was fairly large with only two floors above the colonys ground level. The rest was a labyrinth sprawling through the colony's outer wall. The data centre was located on sub basement three, the lowest floor. It was housed in a fairly large room that had connected directly to the ventilation system. Due to the risk of the computers overheating the ceiling had four large fans to supply cool air. That was his way in.

It was several hours before the colony transitioned into night time. The colony's windows that allowed sunlight to shine in and reflect around were closed and Heliopolis was plunged into into its illusion of night. Dressing quickly in all black similar to the true Duo Maxwell just missing the white priest collar Heero gathered everything he would need to infiltrate a facility such as Morgenroete and slipped into in a backpack. Slipping out the window and dropping down two floors he was on his way.

Observing from the shadows Heero watched two security guards standing sentry. One inside a small both watching several camera feeds the other outside patrolling back and forth with a flashlight. Due to a eight foot wall surrounding the building the road in that both guards watched was the only obvious entrance. The wall had the occasional camera positioned on it but besides that the security was minimal.

After sneaking into bases belonging to OZ and the UESA this should be simple. He thought.

Finding a section of wall that was hidden from sight of the various security cameras Heero took a running jump and pulled himself up flat on top of the wall to minimize his silhouette. Dropping down the other side he quickly dashed to the buildings wall and worked around until he found a ladder leading to the roof. The roof was exactly as the blueprints illustrated, flat with the exceptions of several several ventilation systems to circulate airflow within.

Moving silently to central system Heero removed the grate with a screwdriver in his small multitool. Checking his watch he saw the time was 10:42. Climbing into the tunnel he immediately came to a three foot drop. Dropping down he proceeded to slowly crawl his way through. It was slow work and Morgenroete wasn't actually small. It wasn't easy to navigate through the maze, it was cold, dark and cramped forcing him to crawl of his forearms and knees. It was 10:59 by the time he arrived at the junction where the vent meet the elevator shaft. Removing three of the four screws in the grate he let it hang down so it would be easy to put back.

If evidence of his infiltration was found ZAFT would be the most likely suspect and the last thing the PLANTs wanted was to drag the neutral nation into the war. The mobile suits were being built for the Atlantic Federation so they wouldn't be suspect. The Eurasians would get some heat as long time rivals of the Atlantic Federation but they didn't really have the ability to pull of a operation like this. They were not ones for the subtle approach to things.

Slipping out of the vent to hang onto the ledge Heero jumped across and grabbing the heavy duty cables that the elevators ran on with a grunt. His plan was to climb down the shaft four floors until sub basement two, one floor above the primary data center. Then once again enter the ventilation system, locate the fans that supplied the cold air and enter from there. Climbing down wasn't enjoyable but it bet climbing around the cold vents in the dark. The descent was uneventful and before long Heero arrived at the intersection of the ventilation system. Leaning across he made quick work of removing three screws as he had done above. Getting a hand on the ledge he pulled himself up and into the vent. Finding the cooling system wouldn't be hard, he could already feeling the airflow and hear the fan's blades.

Throughout his time as a soldier in both After Colony and the Cosmic Era Heero had spent a unusual amount of time crawling through vents. Unlike Trowa he didn't like the idea of joining a organization to dismantle it from within. He would rather destroy his enemy head to head or sneak in and accomplish his objective. He Didn't like being neck deep in lies where one screw up could get you found out and killed, not that he screwed up very often. Joining ZAFT the way he did went against his personal philosophy of not hiding and being open with his intentions but he didn't really have a choice he wasn't suppose to exist here.

He needed a purpose. He always had a purpose in the past, whether it was assisting Odin Lowe, preparing and training his body and mind with Dr. J, operation meteor and the Eve wars, and being a Preventer agent. He needed a purpose, he wasn't the sort to sit around idle. His past experiences and knowledge left little choice on what he was qualified for. ZAFT had given him a purpose again, one that he excelled at.

He quickly arrived at where the vent fell into the large shaft that housed the four large fans. Dropping down on a steel girder several inches above said fans he had a perfect view down to the server rooms floor. There was one small problem, the fans were spinning at a faster rate then he expected. He thought they would be rather slow since there was four of them but at the speed they were rotating he didn't think he could slide through unscathed. He would have to jam the fan first with something strong enough to hold until he recovered the data and made it back up the shaft.

Removing his back he withdrew a twenty foot coil of rope usually used for things like rock climbing. Tying the rope around the support beam he was standing on he wrapped the rest of the coil around his head and arm. Now to jam the fan. He had just the thing on him, he always kept it on him. Drawing a fold out knife from his back pocket he flipped the blade out. The knife's blade was pure white and razor sharp with no teeth or serrated edge and six inches long. It came out of a blue handle made of the same material the blade was that curved at the bottom to create a good strong grip. The knife was perfectly smooth and in excellent condition.

It was like no other knife on Earth or in the colonies orbiting it. It was made of gundanium alloy. Specifically gundanium alloy taking from the wreckage of Wing Zero Custom after the failed Mariemaia Revolution. The Preventers had cleaned up the destroyed Gundam but not before Quatra had recovered a small piece from on of the shoulders. He and Trowa had somehow fashioned it into a functioning fold out knife that they gave to him. He wasn't sure why they made it for him but he was glad they did. It was a small reminder of his past and the path he had taken. A small piece of home.

Taking the knife he jammed it as hard as he could into the fan's housing before quickly retracting his hand. The blade sunk several inches into the steel like butter and the fan struck against the handle halting all movement. Tossing the rope down Heero grabbed his bag and slid down into Morgenroete's primary data centre. The room was bathed in a blueish light from all the dozens of servers that lined the room in four rows. Looking around he noticed there were zero security camera's in the room. With a sigh of relief and a stretch we walked to the main terminal and quickly connected his laptop.

Working quickly with several programs he himself had created he began to hack through Morgenroete's firewall. He had a gift for hacking that Dr. J had nurtured during their time together. Duo, the real Duo Maxwell was the only other Gundam pilot that was anywhere close to his level. It didn't take long before he was through. Hooking up a external hard drive he began to copy all data linked to the Earth Alliance's G Project mobile suits along with their new battleship designs called the Archangel class. Skimming through the information while the transfer finished he caught glimpses of the new prototypes abilities and technology. GAT-X207 BLITZ...Mirage Colloid...Lancer Darts...GAT-X102 Duel...Phase Shift Armour...Beam Saber...57mm High-energy Beam Rifle...GAT-X103 Buster...Missile Pods...GAT-X105 Strike...Striker Packs...Armour Schneider...GAT-X303 Aegis...Scylla 580mm Energy Cannon...Mobile Armour mode.

Beep Beep Beep

Glancing down at his laptop he saw that the transfer was complete. Successfully logging back out through the firewalls be packed his gear up making sure not to leave anything behind. Stapping his backpack to his back he began to climb up the rope into the cooling system. Pulling himself back up onto the support bar he quickly untied his rope and pulled it up. Wrapping it up he tossed it into his bag. Heero then placed his foot on the fan to keep it from instantly speeding up while he retrieved his knife which he slipped into his pocket. Then began escaping undetected and removing all traces of his entry.

It was 12:22 when he made it back to his hotel. His mission had gone of without a hitch and he was confident that Morgenroete would not have a clue that he was ever there. Removing his gear he collapsed on the bed and was asleep within minutes hoping that tonight his dreams wouldn't be plagued by a little girl and her dog.